Water heater and method of making same



June 29, 1937. H. A. FELDT WATER HEATER AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed April 29, less 11v VENTOR QM JfI A TTORNEY Patented June 29, 1937 QFFICE WATER HEATER AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Henning A. Feldt, Kansas City, Mo.

Application April 29, 1935, Serial No. 18,728

7 Claims.

' My invention relates to improvements in water heaters and methods of making same.

v One of the objects of my invention is to provide a novel water heater which presents in compact form a relatively large heating area, which enables economy in the use of the fuel used, which affords a free and even flow of water, which can be used for heating water for hot water heating service, or for the production of steam, which will quickly heat the water to the desired temperature, which is resistant to corrosion or clogging, which is freely expansible, which is not liable to soot obstruction, and which is economical in construction and efficient in its operation.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel means by which the inlet and outlet connections of the heater are retained from injurious action of the water heating means. Another object of my invention is the provision of novel means for providing the heater with a reserve water supply that is heated by the same means that heats the water heater.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a novel water heater which is simple, durable, not likely toget out of order and which not liable 'to injury by expansion and contraction.

My invention provides further a novel method of making my improved heater which is economically carried into effect and which affords a strong construction that permits free expansion and contraction without injurious efiects.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter any described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment of my invention,

' Fig. 1 is a front view, partly in elevation, partly broken away and partly in vertical section of a water heating structure embodying my improvements.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on the plane of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

tion of one of the heaters prior to its formation into involute form.

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the difierent views.

I designates the body of a casing in which are disposed two gas burners 2 over which are respectively disposed two of my improved water heaters 3. i5\. 3

The body 1 adjacent its lower end is provided with air inlet openings 4, the top of the casing being provided with a smoke pipe 5 for the outlet of products of combustion.

An elliptical ring 6 attached to the inner side of the casing l and extending horizontally supports the water heaters 3.

A lining of insulation material, such as asbestos l extends around against the inner side of the casing I above the ring 6, the combustion chamber 8 being encircled by such lining.

Disposed respectively at the front and the rear of the casing I are two upper headers 9 each of which has its ends connected respectively to the adjacent sides and upper portions of the water heaters 3 by two pipes l0.

At the front and rear respectively of the casing I are two lower headers ll each of which has its ends respectively connected to the adjacent sides of the heaters 3 near the lower ends thereof by two pipes l2.

Each of the headers 9 has respectively connected to its ends two pipes l3 which lead to radiators or to other elements which are to be supplied with hot water or steam.

Each of the lower headers II has respectively connected to its ends two intake pipes M which provide return means for the heated water that has been used and which was supplied by the pipes l0.

Two water reserve tanks l5 are disposed in the casing I, partly in and adapted to be heated in the combustion chamber 8. Each tank [5 is connected respectively adjacent to its upper and lower ends to the upper and lower headers 9 and H by pipes l6 and [1.

Connecting the front upper header 9 with the lower front header H is a pipe [8 which includes a water gauge l9, Fig. 1.

Extending from the pipe I8 is a water pipe 28 adapted to connect with a suitable water supply, not shown. The pipe 29 includes a shut off valve 2 I. The pipe 20 includes at opposite ends respectively of the glass gauge l9, two shut off valves 22.

Connected to the lower front header II is a blow off pipe 23 having in it a shut off valve 24.

Each of the water heaters 3 consists of the following described parts. Two metal sheets, such as steel, copper or an alloy, or other metal, and designated respectively by 25 and 26 are disposed parallel with each other, as shown in Fig. 5, and are spaced apart by twolongitudinal bars of metal 27 disposed respectively adjacent the longitudinal edges of the sheets.

The sheets 25 and 26 are coiled, with the bars 21 intoinvolute form around a vertical axis comprising a pipe 28, to which the inner ends of the sheets 25 and 26 and the bars 21 are Welded.

The bars 21 are welded to the sheets 25 and 26. The outer sheet 25 is longer than the inner sheet 26 and has its outer end portion continued beyond the outer end of the inner sheet 26 and at its extreme outer end is welded to itself to form a circular periphery for the heater, as shown.

A transverse bar 29 is disposed between and Welded to the sheets 25 and 2B, and has its ends respectively welded to the inner sides of the bars 21.

Arcuate closures of sheet metal 39 respectively extend from the outer ends of the bars 21 and are attached thereto and to the portions of the sheet 25 outwardly beyond the cross bar 29 to which the arcuate portions 30 are also welded.

A water chamber of general involute form is thus provided between the sheets 25 and 26, at the end of which chamber is the vertical pipe 28, which is provided with a longitudinal row of openings 3|, Fig. 1, through which water passes into the pipe 28 from the involute water chamber, thereby afiording protection to the pipe 23 from the intense heat of the combustion chamber 8.

The pipes 28 of the two water heaters 3 are respectively provided with safety valves 32 of any common type. The pipes 28 extend at their upper end portions through the topof the casing I, as shown in Fig. 1.

The involute water chamber in each heater 3 has an involute space 33 extending vertically through the heater which space serves as a draft passage the upper and lower ends of which communicate with the combustion chamber above the adjacent heating unit, which, as shown is a gas burner 2. The heat from the burners 2 passes directly upwardly through the draft passages 33, and between the two heaters 3 and partially around the tanks l5, thereby quickly and economically heating the water in the water heaters 3 and in the tanks l5.

By reason of the construction which has been described, a maximum heating effect is afforded with the production of a minimum of corrosion or clogging of the water conducting parts, and a minimum production of soot deposits in the heating chamber 8 or between the coils of the involute heating chambers of the heaters 3.

It will be noted that all the pipe connections leading through the casing l to and from the heaters 3 are disposed wholly outside of the combustion chamber 8, as are the pipes which lead to and from the tanks i5. These pipes l6 and I1 and the pipes l and I4 which connect with the heaters 3 are, within the casing I, located in the asbestos lining 1 outside the combustion chamber 8. These connecting pipes are thereby protected from the intense heat of the combustion chamber, and, therefore, will not be quickly corroded or clogged, as they would be if subjected to intense heat.

By having the water tanks l located wholly outside of and apart from the involute water heaters 3, and located wholly within the combustion chamber, the tanks absorb little heat from the water heaters and do not radiate heat to the outer atmosphere, thus adding to the efliciency of the apparatus.

It will be noted that each of the inlet pipes l2 and each of the outlet pipes I0 communicates directly with the outermost coil of the adjacent heater 3. By means of this construction none of the pipes which carry water to or from the heater is exposed to the heat of the combustion chamber, no water being supplied to or taken from the heaters by the central pipes 28, the sole functions of which are to close the inner ends of the involute water chambers.

Various modifications of my invention, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a water heater, a shell comprising two metal sheets disposed edge up in involute form one at the inner side of the other, a vertical closure between and fastened to said sheets at their inner ends, a vertical closure between and fastened to said sheets adjacent to the outer ends, and two involute closures disposed between and fastened to said sheets adjacent to their upper and lower edges respectively, said sheets and said closures forming a closed involute chamber adapted to hold water or steam, the involute space between the coils of said chamber forming a draft passage extending vertically through said shell, said chamber having inlet and outlet openings through the outer wall of its outermost coil.

2. In a water heater having a casing provided with a combustion chamber having an inlet for air and an outlet for products of combustion, the combination with said casing, of a shell having a water chamber of involute form with a vertical axis and closed at its top and bottom and at its inner and outer ends, and with an involute space between the coils forming a vertical draft passage the ends of which communicate with said.

combustion chamber, said water chamber having inlet and outlet openings through the outer wall of its outermost coil.

3. In a water heater, a shell comprising two parallel metal sheets disposed in-coils to form the side walls of an involute water chamber, involute top and bottom members respectively attached to the top and bottom edges of said sheets and closing the top and bottom of said water chamber, and means closing the inner and outer ends of said water chamber, an involute vertical space being provided between the coils of said water chamber adapted to serve as a vertical draft passage, said chamber having inlet and outlet openings through the outer wall of its innermost coil.

4. The method of making a water heater consisting in coiling into involute form, one inside of the other, two parallel metal sheets, thereby forming an involute chamber, closing the inner and outer ends of said chamber, and attaching respectively to opposite edge portions of said sheets two involute members so as to close said portions of said chamber, an involute space being provided between the coils of said chamber to serve as a draft passage.

5. The method of making a water heater consisting in disposing two metal sheets parallel with each other, disposing two metal bars between said sheets lengthwise thereof and respectively adjacent to the longitudinal edges of said sheets, coiling said sheets and with them said bars to involute form, thereby forming an involute chamber with an involute space between its coils to serve as a draft passage, and then closing the inner and outer ends of said chamber, and welding said bars to said sheets. ,6. Themethod ofmaking a water heater consisting in disposing two metal sheets parallel with each other with one set of ends in register, one of said sheets projecting at its other end beyond the other sheet, disposing two longitudinal bars between said sheets lengthwise thereof respectively adjacent to the longitudinal edges of said sheets, coiling said sheets and said bars to involute form with the longer sheet at the outer side and with the coils spaced apart, thereby forming an involute chamber with an involute space between the coils to serve as a draft passage, closing the inner end of said chamber, closing said involute space at the outer end of the said inner sheet, attaching the outer end of the outer sheet to the outer side thereof thus closing the outer end of said chamber, and closing opposite sides of said chamber between the outer ends of said sheets, thereby forming a steam tight water chamber.

7. In a water heater, a shell comprising two involute metal sheets disposed edge up one within and spaced from the other, two involute closures fastened to and connecting said sheets respectively adjacent to the upper and lower edges of said sheets, thereby providing an involute chamber with its coils spaced apart and forming a draft passage of involute form, means closing the said chamber at its inner ends, the outer sheet projecting at its outer end beyond the outer end of the other sheet and having its outer end attached to the outer side of the outer sheet, means closing said involute space at the outer end of said inner sheet, and means closing the upper and lower sides of said chamber between the outer ends of said sheets, said chamber having inlet and outlet openings through the outer wall of its outermost coil.

HEN'NING A. FELDT. 

